Earthquake in Sichuan, China: the aftermath

We arrive at the school late, after travelling most of the day from Chongqing, 350km away. The IWG has arranged for a Beijing-based theatre group to encourage the children to express their feelings via activities and drama. A good idea. Possibly the best way to help them.

This group of foreign ladies from Chongqing has also provided desks and chairs for the children, who prior to this, were sitting and doing their schoolwork on the cold concrete floor. God knows how they have managed to keep their collective act together, given the grief and loss that they have endured. Teachers included.

It's a struggle. These survivors are at the beginning stages of recovery. Until now, their efforts have been directed towards meeting their material needs ahead of the coming winter.

Soon, whether they like it or not, they will also be forced to deal with the psychological consequences of their traumatic experience.

This will be hard. In a poor county, in a rural district, in a nation which is struggling to provide affordable, basic medical services to its population, long term mental health care is an impossibility.

These people will just have to manage as best they can.